Terrebonne Council approves master plan

The plan predicts a steady population surge through 2030.

Published: Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 10:55 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 10:55 a.m.

The Terrebonne Parish Council unanimously approved the Vision 2030 Comprehensive Master Plan Wednesday night — a document that aims to chart the local government’s direction over the next two decades.

Vision 2030, a 300-page plan, details strategies intended to guide parish leaders over the next 17 years. None of the recommendations are mandated, but local government officials use the guidelines to plan roads, housing, drainage systems, land use and other long-term development.

Bernard Hargenrader, of Houma, said he’s not against the planning and zoning recommendations detailed in the plan but rather the federal money he said is used for the parish’s studies in order to implement policies.

“Once it’s voted on and approved, you will be forced to use the federal government’s rules,” Hargenrader told the council.

Hargenrader is referring to Agenda 21, which is a non-binding, voluntary action plan by the United Nations to implement sustainable development nationally and locally.

Terrebonne Planning Director Pat Gordon said Agenda 21 is “totally out of our scope of work.”

Gordon agrees with Hargenrader that studies and plans are required to get federal dollars.

“But where else would we get all these millions of dollars to elevate structures?” Gordon said after the meeting. “We just got another seven and a half million dollars from the federal government, and we wouldn’t have gotten that money if we wouldn’t have had a hazard mitigation plan in place.”

The parish began updating the master plan in 2009 to incorporate changes to population and community needs, which were impacted by the 2005 and 2008 hurricanes. The public has had the opportunity to provide input at periodic meetings held over the past few years.

The plan uses population and demographic data included in the 2010 Census. The plan predicts a steady population increase through 2030, though it won’t be as brisk as the growth experienced in the 1990s and 2000s. Those two decades saw between 7 percent and 8 percent growth, according to the plan.

Terrebonne’s 2010 population was 111,680. That figure is expected to grow 4.5 percent by 2020 and another 5 percent the following decade, bringing the population to 122,907, according to the plan.

About 11 percent of Terrebonne’s population is 65 years or older. By 2030, about 16 percent will reach that age, the plan says.

The main focus of the plan is an emphasis on keeping the parish resilient, parish officials have said.

The plan also suggests expanding zoning, or land-use rules, to more rural communities north of Houma. Currently zoning is in place in incorporated parts of Houma and along the La. 311 corridor and Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Zoning designates individual pieces of property for commercial, residential or industrial use and attempts to keep similar uses in the same vicinity.

Zoning has been hotly debated over the years in Terrebonne. Proponents say such rules are necessary to encourage orderly commercial and residential development. Opponents decry it as an intrusive government telling landowners what they can and can’t do with their property.

Better public sewers, roads and traffic planning are other focus areas included in the plan. Such improvements, the document says, will encourage growth and tourism.

The plan also includes specific beautification projects for downtown Houma.

Another challenge, the plan acknowledges, is that nearly 90 percent of Terrebonne’s land is “environmentally sensitive,” meaning that the costs to develop in these areas — if it’s even physically or legally possible — is too expensive to consider.

The plan also addresses the need for more efficient highways and roads.

Promoting carpooling, shuttle buses, flex-time work schedules to reduce peak-time traffic and establishing park-and-ride facilities are some of the traffic-reducing proposals detailed in the plan.

The plan suggests restructuring the transit system to serve more employment centers. It mentions providing free Wi-Fi on the bus to encourage young people to ride.

The full plan is available for review on the local government’s website, tpcg.org.

<p>The Terrebonne Parish Council unanimously approved the Vision 2030 Comprehensive Master Plan Wednesday night — a document that aims to chart the local government's direction over the next two decades. </p><p>Vision 2030, a 300-page plan, details strategies intended to guide parish leaders over the next 17 years. None of the recommendations are mandated, but local government officials use the guidelines to plan roads, housing, drainage systems, land use and other long-term development.</p><p>Bernard Hargenrader, of Houma, said he's not against the planning and zoning recommendations detailed in the plan but rather the federal money he said is used for the parish's studies in order to implement policies. </p><p>“Once it's voted on and approved, you will be forced to use the federal government's rules,” Hargenrader told the council. </p><p>Hargenrader is referring to Agenda 21, which is a non-binding, voluntary action plan by the United Nations to implement sustainable development nationally and locally. </p><p>Terrebonne Planning Director Pat Gordon said Agenda 21 is “totally out of our scope of work.” </p><p>Gordon agrees with Hargenrader that studies and plans are required to get federal dollars.</p><p>“But where else would we get all these millions of dollars to elevate structures?” Gordon said after the meeting. “We just got another seven and a half million dollars from the federal government, and we wouldn't have gotten that money if we wouldn't have had a hazard mitigation plan in place.” </p><p>The parish began updating the master plan in 2009 to incorporate changes to population and community needs, which were impacted by the 2005 and 2008 hurricanes. The public has had the opportunity to provide input at periodic meetings held over the past few years.</p><p>The plan uses population and demographic data included in the 2010 Census. The plan predicts a steady population increase through 2030, though it won't be as brisk as the growth experienced in the 1990s and 2000s. Those two decades saw between 7 percent and 8 percent growth, according to the plan.</p><p>Terrebonne's 2010 population was 111,680. That figure is expected to grow 4.5 percent by 2020 and another 5 percent the following decade, bringing the population to 122,907, according to the plan.</p><p>About 11 percent of Terrebonne's population is 65 years or older. By 2030, about 16 percent will reach that age, the plan says.</p><p>The main focus of the plan is an emphasis on keeping the parish resilient, parish officials have said. </p><p>The plan also suggests expanding zoning, or land-use rules, to more rural communities north of Houma. Currently zoning is in place in incorporated parts of Houma and along the La. 311 corridor and Martin Luther King Boulevard.</p><p>Zoning designates individual pieces of property for commercial, residential or industrial use and attempts to keep similar uses in the same vicinity.</p><p>Zoning has been hotly debated over the years in Terrebonne. Proponents say such rules are necessary to encourage orderly commercial and residential development. Opponents decry it as an intrusive government telling landowners what they can and can't do with their property.</p><p>Better public sewers, roads and traffic planning are other focus areas included in the plan. Such improvements, the document says, will encourage growth and tourism.</p><p>The plan also includes specific beautification projects for downtown Houma.</p><p>Another challenge, the plan acknowledges, is that nearly 90 percent of Terrebonne's land is “environmentally sensitive,” meaning that the costs to develop in these areas — if it's even physically or legally possible — is too expensive to consider.</p><p>The plan also addresses the need for more efficient highways and roads.</p><p>Promoting carpooling, shuttle buses, flex-time work schedules to reduce peak-time traffic and establishing park-and-ride facilities are some of the traffic-reducing proposals detailed in the plan.</p><p>The plan suggests restructuring the transit system to serve more employment centers. It mentions providing free Wi-Fi on the bus to encourage young people to ride.</p><p>The full plan is available for review on the local government's website, tpcg.org.</p>